Thursday, November 15, 2012

Spending Ourselves Out of Recession?

Keynesian economics tells us that expansionary fiscal policy can help kick-start a struggling economy. Following the Great Recession, the United States and many other countries tried this approach. Despite your view on the effectiveness of these policies, this visualization tracks the changes in Gross Domestic Production and the changes in total debt within a country. When a country engages in fiscal stimulus the trend line with move horizontal. GDP growth is measured by vertical movements. If a country expanded both simultaneously, a 45 degree line could be drawn. Notice the vertical drops in Japan’s GDP - these signal a serious economic slowdown that began in the late 1990s in Japan. Also note the use of expansionary fiscal policy in an attempt to lift Japan out of recession.

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Visualizing Public Life presents the opportunity for exploration in the world of data visualization. Businesses, designers, scholars, media outlets, and non-profits are increasingly seeking professionals who know how to represent information in innovative and edifying ways. The Visualizing Public Life blog will provide advice, tips, and updates on data visualization and the 2013 Contest at Calvin College.